Match-safe



1(No. Model.)

G. WBIGAN'D. MATGH SAFE.

aPatented Nov. 3, 1896.

UNITED i STATES PATENT OFFICE. v

GEORGE VVEIGAND, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

MATCH-SAFE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,859, dated November 3, 1896.

' Application filed June 27, 1896. Serial No. 597,227. (No model.)

To all Ywhom t may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE WEIGAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match-Safes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its obj ect to provide an improved match safe or stand adapted especially for use at cigar-counters and similar places, where it is desired to effect an economy in the use of matches.

To this end my invention comprises the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and dened in the claims.

The preferred form of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein, like letters referring to like part-s throughout the several views# Figure l is a perspective View showing my improved match safe or sta-nd. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line x3 @c3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line m4 of Fig; 2.

The body of the case or stand is in the form of a box or shell ct, which in cross-section is oblong. The bottom or lower end of this bodysection ct is left open, and, as shown, is provided with a bell-mouth or haring base ct', and the upper or match-discharging end of the same is formed with converging walls CL2, which terminate short of each other to form a slot a3, through which the matches may be discharged one by one. As shown, these converging walls a2 are formed on lines which represent a double or compound curve, and the ends of the slot d3 are somewhat enlarged, as shown at co4, to permit the ready passage of the friction ends of the matches.

In order to give access to the matches, so that they may be forced by the fingers, or, rather, by a finger and the thumb, through the slot co3, the upper edges of the curved or converging wall ends a2 are notched or cut away, as shown at d5. As shown, the base portion a is provided with a pair of transverse end rods c, which stand outward from the lines formed by the inner surfaces of the end walls of the body-section ct.

The matches e' within the case or body section a are spring-pressed to move toward the slot a3 of said case by means of a followerplate b, which works freely Within the section a and is spring-pressed by a pair of coiled springs b', the lower ends of which bear against a resistance plate or bar b2. Preferably the springs b should be soldered or otherwise rigidly secured to the followerplate b at their upper ends, and likewise secured to the resistance-plate b2 at their lower ends.

The resistance plate or bar b2 is provided at its ends with catch-springs b3, which have lips or lugs b4, adapted to engage with the cross-bars a6 of the base-section a' to removably secure the said resistance-plate b2 in the lower open end of the case-section a. Obviously by pressing the spring-catches b3 b4 toward each other the said resistance-plate b2, together with the springs b' and followerplate b, may be readily inserted into working position within the match-safe or removed therefrom. These parts should of course be removed to permit the case to be filled with matches, and then should be placed in working position, as indicated in the draw'- ings. As the matches are used or removed one by one from the match safe or stand the follower l) will of course be gradually forced upward, so as to always keep the upper matches crowded into the narrow portion or upper end of the converging section of the safe; but under this action the matches will not be forced through the slot as., On the contrary, the matches will become locked or jammed together just below the slot a3. However by applying a finger and thumb to the upper match or matches which are eX- posed at the iinger-notches a4 the matches may be readily removed from the case one by one.

It should be understood that while I have shown and described the improved form of my invention as in the form of a match-safe adapted to be stood upon acounter or stand so far as the broad principles of my invention are concerned the device might take various forms.

It will also be understood that while I have described my invention as designed vfor a match-safe, and while this is the purpose for which it is best adapted, yet the ,same might be employed for other purposes, such, for instance, as a tooth-pick holder.

lVhat I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

l. A match-safe or similar device, formed at its match-discharging end with converging Walls which terminate short of each other to form a slot through which the matches may be discharged, one by one, a spring-pressed followenplate'working against the matches in said safe, a removable resistance plate or bar in the open end of said safe, and one or more springs compressed between said follower-plate and said resistance-plate, substantially as described.

2. A match-safe or similar device formed at its match-disch( rging end with converging walls which terminate short of each other to form a slot and are provided with fingernotches7 a spring-pressed follower -plate working against the matches in said safe, a removable resistance plate or bar closing the open end of said safe, and a pair of springs secured to and compressed between said follower-plate and said resistance-plate, substantially as described.

3. The combination with the body-section a formed with curved converging walls d terminating short of each other to form the slot a3 and provided with finger-notches a4, the base a having cross-rods a, the followerplate b, the resistance plate or bar b2, the springs b secured to said plates b and b2, and the spring b3, b4 cooperating with said bars a6, substantially as described. Y

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE WEIGAND.

lVitnesses BEssrE B. N ELsoN, F. D. MERCHANT. 

